How to journey to Syria in 2019 – Everything you need to know

Posted On Jan 4, 2020 By admin With Comments Off

traveling in Syria

This travel guide to Syria is being reviewed and modernized perpetually. All the info you can find here is the latest from 2019

This year I decided to travel to Syria.

The country had been in my plans for a very long time and, lastly, they started to make it easier for travelers. Well , not easier than i thought, but surely easier.

I spent 1 week there traveling separately and saw Damascus, Homs, and Aleppo.

It was an amazing experience.

On the one paw, awfully augmenting, as I assemble loadings of Syrians who “ve been told” their surface of the legend, plus I got to visit ancient, marvelous locates that were a real blessing to my eyes.

But, on the other hand, now I evidenced one of the most serious humanitarian crisis in the 21 st century and inspected hair-raising sits that may require a lot of cold blood, if you don’t want to breakdown in tears, and will realise you be sensitive and empathize with the many beautiful Syrians.

Long Live Syria.

This guide contains everything you need to know for traveling to Syria independently, including abundance of tips seeing visas, security, transportation and much, much more!

If you want to keep track of all my current tours and photos, don’t forget to follow @againstthecompass on Instagram

Also, don’t forget to read about my experience in Aleppo

Travel in Syria

Index:

Why travel to Syria Recommended books How to get a visa Travel Insurance for Syria How to got to get Syria Is Syria safe ? The parties How to move around Money in Syria Responsible tourism and moralities Taking photos Don’t get off the beaten track Where to stay The food Internet and portable

Do you know what a VPN is? A Virtual Private Network allows you to access blocked areas when you walk, as well as it lets you access content only available in your home country( like Netflix ), plus it thwarts hackers from stealing your personal data. Learn here why you should ever use a VPN when you cross

Why should be used call Syria now?

This is a very good question, one I have been asked a good deal recently.

The truth is that reasons vary.

First of all, in the last couple of years, I ought to have traveling all across the Middle East, so inspecting Syria, one of the most fascinating countries in the region, had been in my travel plans for a very long time.

I actually attempted to travel there from Beirut back in 2016, but the Syrian embassy said they were not issuing visas at that time.

Another even more important reason is that Syria is a great country, home to one of the oldest civilizations ever, so touring Syria from a tourism view is a must-do.

Middle East The beautiful Omayyad Mosque in Damascus, one of the oldest and largest mosques in the world

However, most people asking that question tend to refer more to the ethical appearance of traveling to Syria, as this is a war zone from where many people have been forced to escape in order to save their lives.

Well, I want you to know that I fully understand why someone would not want to visit a post-war zone because, truth be told, destroyed buildings and misery are not pleasant things to see.

Nevertheless, the first thing you need to know is that I travel to learn and become wiser and, yes, I am interested in inspecting a post-war zone, because this is living history and I wanted to see it with my own gazes, and not through a biased newspaper.

Hey, have you ever wondered how I make a full living from blogging? Learn here how I started monetizing my blog and get over 200,000 monthly page opinions in less than 3 years

I also think that traveling to Syria with the sole objective of empathizing with the locals is a good thing and, as long as you are absolutely submissive about the crisis, there are no wrong with it.

But in the end, we should ask Syrians what they think about it and I can guarantee that, since Syria used to be a major touristic destination, today Syrians are very happy to see that tourists are coming back because this is a real sign of recovery.

For more information, read the Responsible Tourism region of this article.

Also, don’t forget to read about my experience in Aleppo

can you travel to Syria The views from the citadel in Aleppo … No utterances needed- Is it safe to travel to Syria

Recommended books for traveling to Syria

Syria travel guide by Bradt- “There arent” informed guidebooks of Syria, but Bradt Guides has the only exclusive roam template to Syria, modernized as of 2010. Still, it is a good source and a neat introduction to the country

CLICK HERE TO CHECK THE PRICES ON AMAZON

Middle East

The Rise of the Islamic State by Patrick Cockburn- A must-read book. Written by one of the world’s top experts on the Middle Eastern conflict. In this volume, Cockburn imparts a very comprehensive explanation of the descent of DAESH, with many references to Syria. A very useful book to understand the complexity and inception of the conflict.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES ON AMAZON

syria

Tourist visa for Syria

Updated December 2019

( If you have any more information, kindly give us know in the comments area)

Getting a Syrian visa nowadays is a confusing process.

Here’s the thing 😛 TAGEND

Prior to November 2018( and from the start of 2018 ), you could get a Syrian visa by paying 300 -4 00 USD to a tour operator and then you could travel around the country independently.

However, in November 2018, an independent German backpacker got into some confidential areas where tourists were not supposed to go and he was arrested for a week.

Since then, the Ministry of Tourism has prescribed that all travelers who want to get a Syrian tourist visa must book a full safarus with a legitimate tour operator. I recommend the chaps from Marrota Tourism( more details below ).

This means that, unfortunately, Syria is not ready to receive tourists more, so we will have to wait for a while.

How to get a Syrian visa instantly from a safarus adventurer

The first thing you need to know is that travel agencies don’t issue sightseer visas for Syria but a insurance permission( a background check ), which you need to show at the customs. Actually, you don’t even need to show it because you will appear in their database.

By the room, this is how the security clearance looks like. Usually, it includes various random beings 😛 TAGEND

tourist visa for Syria

Cost of security clearance:

Until recently- Since you didn’t really need to book a full safarus, travel business simply asked you to pay them 300 -4 00 USD. If you had a British or American passport, you would have paid a few more hundred. Today- Since you need to book a full expedition, enterprises won’t really say to you what is the cost of the security clearance because it is all included in the package.

How to pay for your visa: Note that the Syrian banking system is blocked so, in most cases, you will need to send the money via Western Union. However, some firms have foreign bank accounts, so you may be able to pay via PayPal or direct bank movement.

Time: Again, it depends on the agency. In my instance, I got my security clearance in less than 24 hours but, today, they are averaging 10 -1 5 days. For Americans, it may take up to several months, plus getting the security authorization is not even granted.

Validity: It has a 90 -day validity, starting from the day you received it.

Once you have your security clearance, you can buy your visa at the border.

EU Passport holders: 72 USD Australia and New Zealand: 130 USD United Kingdom: 140 USD USA: 160 USD

The tourist visa for Syria is valid for 10 daylights. According to the migration man, you can extend it at the Immigration Office in Damascus, but who knows whether this is true or not.

You will also get paid an depart cost of 2,500 SYP, which is around 5USD.

My visa for Syria and my Lebanese molds Which Tour Operator I recommend?

For the last few months, I ought to have contacting various tour operators, trying to figure out which one would be best to recommend, so after having a few discussions, I strongly think that Mr. Ayoub from Marrota Tourism is the best option.( actual website coming soon ).

Why?

Since they were give the most competitive prices( genuinely, you won’t find cheaper) They are very responsive and professional You don’t have to pay anything before getting your visa For the tour, you can pay upon your appearance

Moreover, they accept direct bank transports in EUR and, if you are from outside the EU, you can pay them via Paypal, whereas with other tour operators, you need to do some dodgy Western Union transfers.

How to contact him- You can contact Mr. Ayoub via email ayoub @marrota. com or via WhatsApp or Telegram + 963 954 840 021- Tell him you ascertained them through my website.

They can organize your expedition to Palmyra, Krak des Chevaliers, Aleppo, Homs, etc.

Just email them with your special request and get your quote.

By the action, they can get your security clearance in 1 week or less.

( if you consent going with them, it would be great if you post your review in the comments segment)

I traveled in Syria separately in December 2018 and January 2019, yet, I didn’t book a tour. How did I do it?

WARNING Update October 2019- Unfortunately, you can’t do this anymore. According to a few travelers who were in Syria in September 2019, the authorities are now stopping sightseers who are walking around without a neighbourhood person, be recorded in the Old City of Damascus. It genuinely depends on the day and arbiter who stops you but, what it is clear, is that things are getting harder for the independent traveler.

Since a lot of people ask, I wish to clarify how did I manage to visit Syria independently.

The fact is that I got my security clearance( with Basil from the Travel King, a popular scammer) in October 2018 for 325 USD but, for personal grounds, I had to postpone my tour until December/ January.

In mid-December, I contacted Basil to let him known better I would travel to Syria soon, most likely during the first week of January. However, he told me that the rules had changed since we last talked( because of that German backpacker ), so now I needed to book a expedition with him.

I told him that that was not our initial agreement and, if that was the occasion, I would like a full refund.

He said that he would not give me a rebate, claimed that I would get arrested if I led there on my own and, after a long discussion, he threatened to cancel my visa if I didn’t record a tour.

Do you know what I did then?

I didn’t believe him for a second but I said that OK, that I would book a 1-week expedition, but I needed 10 dates to collect all the money.

He trusted me and, while he was waiting for the money, I booked a flight directly to Beirut, intersected the Syrian border and, as I expected, I managed to travel around Syria without any problem, including going to Aleppo and Homs by public transportation and Couchsurfing.

Once I left Syria, I mailed him a word and he hates me for that is currently.

However, as I said, the situation is getting more and more complicated, and it seems that you can’t walk around Syria without a neighbourhood party. Your personal experiences are welcome in the comments section.

How to get a visa for Syria via an embassy

Getting a Syrian visa in the old-fashioned way isn’t going to make things easier.

Nowadays, most embassies will require a Letter of Invitation( LOI ), which you can only get through a safarus hustler, which they are able to exclusively give you if you book a tour with them. For more details, contact Mr. Ayoub via email ayoub @marrota. com or via WhatsApp + 963 954 840 021.

Moreover, you should also know that the process can be much slower. For example, the delegation in Madrid claims that it takes around 40 eras.

As per the costs, the only main difference is that you wouldn’t have to pay for the security permission but in any case, if you book a tour, everything will be part of the same package, so in most cases, there won’t be much inconsistency.

Each Syrian embassy, nevertheless, is a completely different world, so I recommend you contact your nearest and realize what they say.

I personally called the Embassy in Madrid and they said you first need to send an email to siria.consulado @hotmail. com, telling them about your purposes in Syria, so they will tell you what information they need from you, which includes a damn LOI.

After this, they will send all your information to Syria in order to get a security clearance and, if abode, you will be able to apply for your visa, which penalties 60 EUR (+ the cost of the safarus)

Moreover, delegation conventions change every day, so merely contact your nearest embassy and accompany what they say about it.

Read: How to travel to Saudi Arabia( Visa+ Tips )

Visit Syria The Old City of Damascus- The editorials are all part of an old-time Roman Jupiter temple- Is Syria safe?

Travel Insurance for Syria

Like in Iran, because of all the sanctions, most travel insurance companies don’t afford cover for travel in Syria and that includes World Nomads.

The one which does, however, is IATI Insurance.

They have quantities of different plans for all types of travelers and the best of it is that the readers of this blog can get an exclusive 5% discount.

BUY IT THROUGH THIS LINK TO GET YOUR 5% DISCOUNT !

How to get to Syria How to travel to Syria by property

Top Update October 2019- Due to the rallies in Lebanon, the differences between streets to the Syrian border may be closed unusually by demonstrators. In October 19 th& 20 th, two different travelers didn’t manage to get to Syria because the roads were blocked with burning tires. For more information, predicted: Is Lebanon safe ?

Beirut to Damascus- Traveling from Beirut to Damascus is the easiest way to travel to Syria. Beirut is only 115 km from Damascus and the travel makes merely 2 hours, including the customs process.

Currently, there is no bus service but regionals trip in shared taxis.

They leave from Charles Helou bus terminal, who come in a exceedingly center locating, in Gemmazyeh. Shared taxis from Beirut to Damascus run all day long and I disappeared there at 3pm and waited for no more than 15 or 20 minutes.

The expense per person is 20 USD( 18 if it is a 7-seat vehicle ).

Charles Helou terminal- Beirut to Damascus

Alternatively, you can also book a journey with a private company like Allo Taxi, which has a same price but I am not sure if they help you to find other passengers. If you go by yourself, you will pay 100 USD.

Apparently, there is also a shared taxi work from Beirut airport to Damascus but it can cost up to 35 USD per person.

Beirut to Damascus border cover: Very straightforward.

On the Lebanese side, they scarcely check your passport and, on the Syrian side, they take around 20 minutes, as long as there are no parties, of course.

Beirut to Damascus by car On our room from Beirut to Damascus

First, they check your security clearance, then you purchase your visa at the bank counter and give your receipt to the immigration officer.

You exclusively get a stamp , not a visa sticker.

After getting your Syrian visa and resuming your excursion, you will go through several checkpoints, but you shouldn’t know-how any problem. In fact, some soldiers were joking with me about football when they insured my Spanish passport.

Read: A travel guide to Beirut

Tripoli to Tartus- You can also travel to Syria from the border north of Tripoli. Shared taxis to Tartus cost 18,000 LBP( 12 USD) and they leave until 8p m from this station: 34.436691, 35.837163. It is merely a 65 km pilgrimage, so it should be fairly quick.

From Jordan to Syria- The frontier is finally open but the excursion from Amman is longer( 200 km ). I have heard that there are also shared taxis but, regrettably, I don’t know any more details, so it would be great if you could update me with that!

Turkey to Syria- Today, that border will not be able to to intersect legally.

How to travel to Syria by breeze

You are also welcome to fly in but the problem is that the international airport in Damascus doesn’t have countless linkages, so going from Beirut will always be easier.

In any case, check out Cham Wings Airline and Syrian Air. They have periodic flights from Dubai, Sharjah and Doha.

Read: Lebanon- A 2-week itinerary

travel to Damascus Syria Somewhere in Damascus- Can you travel to Syria?

Is it safe to travel to Syria?

Is Syria safe?

Along with the visa, refuge is the other big question mark for anyone traveling to Syria.

Look, the war is practically over( the city of Idlib is the last actual war zone) and cities like Aleppo and Damascus are perfectly safe.

You see offsprings moving around and everything seems just fine now.

Moreover, the Old City of Damascus is full of armed checkpoints where they check your container and look at anyone who seems questionable, so there is a high level of security and nothing has happened for a long time now.

is it safe to go to Syria Celebrating Christmas in Damascus- How to travel to Syria

Actually, I was in Damascus for Christmas and, for the first time since the beginning of the war, the street of the Old City of Damascus ( and Aleppo as well) were filled with Christmas daylights and celebration.

The atmosphere was full of joy, merriment and both Muslims and Christians were celebrating such an occasion with very big enthusiasm( there is a huge Christian community in Damascus ).

This can only mean that even the Syrians themselves imagine the city is safe.

Long story short: I personally think that Syria is safe to visit but it will depend on where you go.

Read: Is it safe to travel to Iraq

Which parts of Syria are safe to travel?

Damascus, Homs, Aleppo, Latakia, Tartus and the Krak De Chevaliers Castle.

For Palmyra, apparently, you still need a special permit. If you go on a safarus, it should be easy to get one but I am not sure how independent travelers could get one. I think you would have to contact a proceed bureau.

You can travel to other areas, like the region south of Damascus and I am sure some places available in between but that is all I know for now.

Still, keep in mind that this is a post-war zone, which means that it is highly unstable and things could change overnight. Against the Compass doesn’t take any responsibility for whatever may happen to you during your trip to Syria.

is it safe to visit Syria Long Live Aleppo- Is it possible to travel to Syria?

The beings- The Syrians

Language- Levantine Arabic is the official language.

You should know that many English-speaking people left the country but you are able to ever find someone who does. In any case, try to learn some Arabic before traveling to Syria.

Religion- Around 65% among populations are Sunni Muslims but, like its neighbor Lebanon, in Syria, there are many different religions, including a large Christian population. Bashar Al-Assad is Alawite, a Shia branch.

Read: Visiting a Syrian refugee camp in Iraq

is Syria a safe place to visit Friendly Syrians, ever- Visit Syria tourism How do Syrians feel about tourism?

According to the UN, around 500,000 Syrians have been killed, nearly 5,000, 000 escaped from the country and various more million who are still in the country need humanitarian assistance.

We are talking here about one of the worst humanitarian crisis in the 21 st century.

Like I said at the beginning, many beings are skeptical about traveling to Syria, claiming or thinking that it may be impudent to all the people that have been affected somehow.

Well, what I think is that, before making any judgment, we should ask the actual Syrians living in Syria what they think about it.

Throughout my 1-week journey, I did not talk to a single Syrian who was not fortunate at understanding a Spanish tourist interested in traveling to Syria.

The ones who spoke English approached me, asking me a lot of questions and showing their gratitude for see their country.

They don’t hesitate to talk to you about the crisis, the problems that it has caused, etc.

Hello, how are you?

Well, alive, thank God!- A random Syrian told me

However, I was considered that straying around Damascus as a tourist would be like being a celebrity. I make, beings is tremendously nice and style but it was not like when you travel in Pakistan, for example, when everyone stops you in the street to talk to you.

The main reason was that most people made I was a journalist and the second was that Syrians have always had great international exposure, so viewing foreigners is something they are actually used to, with the only difference they haven’t seen numerous since 2010.

Long story short: Syrians are happy to see tourists.

is it safe to visit Syria now More friendly Syrians- How to visit Syria

How to travel around Syria

You can travel around Syria by regional buses and shared taxis.

I made the bus from Damascus to Aleppo, which makes more than 7 hours. The rationale is that the section of the road from Homs to Aleppo is not entirely Government-controlled, so after Homs, they turn right and make a huge detour to get to Aleppo.

There is not much to say here, other than the roads of Syria are full of armed checkpoints, which is what you may expect.

Your driver will keep your passport and he will handle everything for you, so don’t worry about that.

I also took the bus from Homs to Damascus and it was a very similar story. From Aleppo to Homs I made a regional shared taxi.

Seriously, buses moved commonly, smoothly and without any problem

In Damascus, this is the main bus station to go to Homs and Aleppo: 33.532449, 36.31875.

The station at Aleppo is quite far from the city center but you will see plenty of taxis just outside.

As per safety, the truth is that many people were being overprotective with me, ever taking care that I was feeling safe and pleasant, so you should not worry about that. Most people taking the bus to Aleppo are from the military forces by the way.

Middle East Bashar Al-Assad face is everywhere- Travel template Syria

What you need to know about money before traveling to Syria

In Syria, they use the Syrian Pound( SYP ), a currency that has been fluctuating like crazy for the past 10 years.

Actually, they say that it devaluates daily, sometimes several times a day, but during my abide, I was always able to exchange at the exact same charge, which was 1USD= 490 SYP.

I exchanged formerly at the inn and then with random beings from various shops. All of them offered me the same rate.

If you check the currency value evolution, you will see that, for the last couple of months, it had all along been between 450 -5 50, approximately.

money in Syria The new Syrian bill with Bashar Al-Assad’s face on it. This is around 4USD and it is their highest bill

There are also official exchange offices that should give you a same value, but I preferred to exchange with random people, as an excuse to have a small chat.

By the highway, accompanied EUR or USD. If you don’t have any, is well aware that in Lebanon you can withdraw USD from most ATMs.

If you have Syrian Pounds left when you leave, you can exchange them to Lebanese Pound or USD in most exchange offices in Beirut. Outside of Lebanon, I doubt you are able to.

ATMs and Credit Cards- Because of the sanctions, everything is blocked in Syria, so you must bring fairly money for your whole stay.

How much does it cost to travel to Syria?

These are the prices of the most conventional things. I won’t write the EUR or$ conversion this time because of the ongoing reduction but bear in mind that 1USD is around 500 SYP.

Lunch in a regional restaurant: 2,500 -4, 000 SYP Food in a delightful eatery with wine-coloured: 7,500 -9, 000 SYP Breakfast( like hummus or ful ): 500 -8 00 SYP National Museum: 500 SYP Aleppo Citadel: 500 YSP Bus from Damascus to Aleppo: 4,000 -5, 000 SYP Budget Hotel in Damascus: 10,000 -1 5,000 SYP for a private chamber Mid-range hotel in Damascus: 20,000 -4 0,000 SYP for a private office Taxis within cities: 500 -7 00 SYP Local shared taxi Aleppo to Homs: 7,000 SYP

Is Syria safe to travel The Citadel of Aleppo- Traveling to Syria

Responsible tourism and ethics

Syria is a post-war zone, where millions of people have lost their houses and relatives, so delight, be a sensitive tourist.

Don’t say fighting but crisis or place instead- You will see that countless Syrians themselves don’t really use the word war but they prefer to say other less draconian words.

Don’t say anything bad about Al-Assad- You will be surprised to know that most people are heavy those in favour of the Al-Assad regime, so don’t give your political sentiment because you may offend someone. I guess that the Syrians who are against him aren’t there anymore.

is it safe to travel to Syria right now Syrians hanging out in a destroyed built in Homs

Don’t do selfies with damaged structures- Dangerously, this is one of the most irreverent things you could ever do and you would actually be an asshole if you did it.

Empathize with the locals- When you are in an area full of destroyed builds be respectful to the people, say hello, shake hands and really be nice with them.

Collaborate with the neighbourhood economy- In Homs and Aleppo, you are likely to see small businesses open among all the devastates. Do buy things from them. In Homs, I envisioned one small-scale bakery supermarket in the essentially destroyed souq; I couldn’t withstand buying one kilo of sweeteneds there, which I imparted to a young son that was looking for something among the trash.

Read: A travel guide to Iraqi Kurdistan

how safe is Syria The streets of Homs, which is around 40% destroyed- Is it safe to visit Syria now

Are the cities certainly destroyed?

This seems to bring a lot of confusion, so let me explain it to you 😛 TAGEND

Damascus- Only the outskirts of Damascus are destroyed, as there was a bloody battle there. That area is off limits to sightseers. The Old City, downtown and, mostly, all the center of Damascus remains intact.

Aleppo- A percentage of the Old City is destroyed, as well as some areas from outside the city. Most of Aleppo isn’t damaged but some very important places from the Old City, like the Great Mosque, are gone.

Homs- One of the most affected municipalities by the war. Approximately 40% of the city is destroyed and that includes its bazaar, one of the liveliest and more important souqs in the Countries of the middle east.

Palmyra- I haven’t been there but, as far as I know, ISIS destroyed large areas of it.

can you still travel to Syria the Old City of Aleppo- Is Syria a safe lieu to stay?

Taking photos when you wander in Syria

You can take photos of everything except for one thing: military stuff.

Yes, it is very obvious but the problem is that there is armed trash everywhere, especially in Damascus.

In Damascus, it happened a few times that I made a picture of some cool building or whatever, from relatively far away, and didn’t realize there was a checkpoint right next to it.

Of course, the soldiers approached me but, after rapidly checking my passport and my camera, they very kindly let me continue.

Seriously, in Damascus Old City, the authorities have checkpoints everywhere, so give attention before taking any photos.

I was also approached by soldiers now and then when I was taking photos of non-military stuff but that was because they still need to get used to tourists prowling around.

Remember everything is still very recent and, in their hearts, everybody could be questionable.

Visit Syria tourism A soldier in Aleppo’s citadel

Don’t get off the beaten track in Syria , had still not been

Seriously, don’t.

Don’t do it because you are going to ruin it for everybody.

Syria precisely started opening to tourism, so stick to the main touristic orbits, which includes the centers of Damascus, Aleppo, etc.

I am telling you this because there was a German guy who went to the outskirts of Damascus to make photos of some destroyed constructs and he was put in jail for a week.

Dude, the country is still not ready for interpret Westerners hanging out in sensitive areas.

Since then, trip business expect travelers to book a full expedition, claiming that, after that incident, there is a new regulation saying that tourists need to be all the time with a leader, but it is bullshit, really.

They tell you this to save their ass because that lover Basel got into trouble when that German guy was arrested. And by the way, instead of helping him, he didn’t want to have anything to do with it.

We shouldn’t blame that German person. He devoted a mistake and he already paid for it, but that should serve as a lesson for future travelers.

how to visit Syria Damascus bazaar is really good to visit

Where to stay in Syria

Since the crisis, the Government of Syria has introduced a dual pricing programme in all inns, in which immigrants pay several times the neighbourhood rate.

This has increased the rates substantially but you are able find numerous cheap alternatives.

Also, you should know that good hotels have often been full. I arrived in Damascus without a reserve and numerous inns I strolled by has no such chambers left but, luckily, there are hotels everywhere.

By the space, you can also try to Couchsurf. I actually Couchsurfed in Aleppo.

Where to stay in Damascus

Budget- Green Hotel- Single areas expense 15 USD and doubled 30 USD. It was very clean, there was a heater, good Wi-Fi and the person from the receipt addres English. It was here, just outside of the Old City: 33.510168. 36.298925. You can contact your best friend Mohammed( he is the only receptionist that speaks good English ): +963993829946. Alternatively, you can contact the hotel instantly but they may not speak English: +963112258895.

hotels in Damascus Green Hotel in Damascus. I paid 15 USD for this room. It was simple but clean and everything you need!

Mid-range- Hotel Al Majed- This hotel queries around 40 USD for a single apartment. Location: 3351718 8, 36.296579

Top-end- Beit al Wali– One of the best inns in the city.

Where to stay in Aleppo

Mid-range- Palace Hotel- Like, I said, I Couchsurfed in Aleppo but I opened this hotel to ask for the expenditure. They request 69 USD for a area. This is the location: 36.207146, 37.14857. It is next to the I Love Aleppo square and it examined a great place to stay. I don’t know any other budget alternatives.

Where to stay in Homs

Mid-range- New Basman Hotel- This is the cheapest hotel I found in Homs. I paid around 40 USD for a huge room, which included a basic dinner and a good breakfast. It was pretty good. This is the location: 34.72133, 36.711241. For a reservation, you can contact them at +963991305972.

The meat and booze in Syria

In the last few years, I haven’t traveled to many countries that are far-famed for their food, but Syria emphatically is.

Being an olive-oil rich Mediterranean country, the ingredients used in their cuisine are fresh and similar to the ones we used in Spain, but too Italy, France, and Greece.

The food is actually pretty much the same as in Lebanon, with their own regional fluctuations, of course.

From the classic hummus to kibbeh( local steak tartar ), all kinds of grilled meat or a typical bowl of Aleppo consisting of meatballs in cherry sauce, the meat in Syria is so alternated.

For me, however, breakfast is the best part, as they always suffice different variances of hummus and ful deep in super deliciou olive oil and vegetables.

As per the booze, you should know that Syria has a large Christian population, so booze is easily available, particularly in the Christian district of the Old City of Damascus, where there is a street filled with disallows and numerous alcohol patronizes.

You are buy a$ 1 beer and liquor it in the street!

food in Syria Hummus for breakfast

Internet and mobile

Wi-Fi- Internet works well across the country. The hotels I stayed at had a good connection and you can also connect in most relatively good coffeehouses and restaurants.

Mobile- I bought Syriatel and, for 2,500 SYP, they gave me 2GB and some calls but, of course, rates may be altered. They only asked to provide my passport. I recommend you go to the official store. There is one next to Merjeh Square, right here: 33.513185, 36.29777.

I hope this pas guidebook to Syria will help you to plan your trip-up. I will try to keep it updated but, “if youre having” more updates, is letting us know in the comments part. Thanks

traveling to Syria